The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-04-28
GEN. II. @. WRIGHT.
Reply 10 Comrades Charges Against the Leader
OF the sixth CORPS.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: j have read
with a great deal Of interest the correspond
ence from comrades, and have been particularly
interested in the various accounts of the battle
Of Cedar Creek. IL was my intention TO re-
main quiet, but / feel MS if the very rocks
would cry out il / failed 10 answer the charges
made against Maj.-Gen. II. q. Wright by Com
rade c, l.. Benson, Sergcant-Major, list VT. III. A.
In the first place, he says If Gen. Wright was
entitled TO any credit at the battle of Cedar
Greek, ii was for the defeat in the morning
i say we were not defeated in the morning
IL was impossible for Gen. Wright, or any
other General, 10 make any advance, or even
stand, when almost double his numbers were
rushing through his ranks 10 the rear. Gen.
Wright did fall back, but in good order, TO get a
better position and rally the fleeing men from
the other corps. j am unable 10 say whether
il was Gen. Mright's intention 20 have made
counter-charpe that afternoon or not as
most Of the Eighth Corps and many OF the
Nineteenth were in the rear, and il il had not
been for Gen. Sheridan forming skirmish.
line across the valley aud forcing the men back
TO the front, i doubt il he could have mustered
enough forces 10 have driven the enemy from
his position.
In the second place, Comrade Benson says
there was heavy firing for full three hours be.
fore any orders came TO fail in line. was at
Third Division, Sixth Corps headquarters, and
as soon as the firing commenced j got up and
dressed, and before we could get our tents
down the bullets were flying around our heads
like hail. The rebel cavalry were in our left
rear on the pike ready TO charge our trains,
and were driven back by left movement by
some of our corps. 1t was but short time
after the firing commenced before Gen. Rick
etts tthen commanding Sixth Corps was up
and sending out orders.
The Eighth Corps was completely surprised
in the morning through no fault of their own.
large number were caught mapping in their
tents. so sudden aud quietly was the advance
made upon them. What could be expected
from men who were almost surrounded before
they were half awaken doubt if any corps
would have done better under the circum-
stances. i do not like TO hear members OF one
corps run down or belittle the actions OF an
other il they did the best they could.
Comrade Benson next says: Gen. Wright
may have been great General, but no enlisted
man IN the glorious old Sixth Corps can be
made 10 believe it," Now. ! say that Gen.
Wright was rs good a General as any that COM
manded a corps in the Army OF the Potomac,
and so thought Gems. Grant, Meade and Sheri-
dan. Why did Gen. Sheridan ask Meade TO
give him the Sixth Corps at the battle OF Five
Forks, if he did not have implicit confidence
in Gen. Wright? What was Gea. Mcade's
opinion? On the 18th of April, 1865, in an adj
dress 10 the SIKH Corps he said:
do not wish TO make any invidous dstinc-
lions between your own and the other corps
of this army, but candor compels me 10 say
that, IN my opinion, the decisive movement OF
this campaign, which resulted In the capture OF
the army of Northern Virginia, was the gallant
aud successful charge Of the Sixth Corps on
the morning Of the I'd of April. IL was with
much pleasure ] received a telegraphc dispatch
from your brave commander on the previous even
ing telling me his confidence In your gallantTy and
courage was 80 great that lac felt confident Of his
ability 10 break through the enemys line. lfinaliy
ordered tie Charge 10 he made at O'Clock IN the
morning on the pa, aud il with still greater
satisfaction that IA "A few hours afterwards had
the pleasure of transmitting dispatch TO the Gen
eral-n-Chiet telling him that the reliance of your
commander had been fully borne out.
Comrade Benson also says that all the boys
hated him for making long marches: that he
marched his corps 10 Danville, over 100 miles,
in about three days, just 10 get ahead of the
Western army. Well, if such was the case,
Sheridan's foot cavalry" as we were some
times called, were able 10 do il. But such was
not the fact We left BurkeVille junction. and
the distance TO Danville was about 100 miles
bat we were four days aud four hours in making
IL. We were ordered TO Danyille 10 head of
Gen. JohnstOn's army. not Sherman's and we
did il; for as soon as Johnston heard the Sixth
Corps was on the way 10 meet him he sur
rendered to Gen. Sherman, not having any
desire TO quarrel or have any dispute with it,
AoHiaut DchsOn also mus laulL ABOUT jhe
march TO Washington, after all our fighting
was over. Why think that was the most pleas.
ant march during the whole war. copy from
my diary at that time.
June 2, ls65.-we left Manchester on May "a al
a. M. and marched 10 Hanover Court -house-dis.
taBce 20 miles May % started nj q. IN. and
marched To Chesterfield Siation-distance Is miles
May 26, raiDed all day. but marched 10 miles.
May q lay still all day; raining hard. May 2s
Sunday. cleared of; waiting for mud TO dry up
SO we can move trains May % moved al 5 a IA.
| marched TO FredeIlcksburg-distanc 20 mies MAY
4 80 moved nj a. m. aud marched 10 Aqua Creek
\ distance 70 miles. May 81 moved nj 5 a. m. and
marchedt 60 o. m.-dislancc - miles. June moved
I at a. IA. and marched TO Fairfax Court house-dis
lance Is miles June moved at "a. m. ans
marched 10 within miles Of Aqueduct Bridge-dis
tancc ~ miles
This makes in all about 133 miles in eigh
marching days, which do not think was very
tall marching. Comrade Benson is the only
soldier j ever heard speak i'll of Gen. III. G
Wright. Now, Mr.. Editor. will close, and i
the boys don't keep in better shape some o
them will hear from me again.
Our irupsf hratest hoard L. c,,na